TORONTO – If one defines influence as the capacity to induce political actions backed by financial resources to produce desired outcomes – no matter the institutional/constitutional barriers – there is only one who fits the order.
But first, one needs to set aside the “noise” regarding extraneous foreign interference. The candidate is neither Chinese, nor Indian, nor Black by race, nor indeed, if one shifts to religious affiliation, neither Muslim nor Hindi, not even the Pope.
There is only one nominee (surprise, surprise) : American [President-elect] Donald Trump. Ever since his November 5 election, Canadian politicians of every stripe, in every region are bending to his every whim as if Mr. Trump were vested with some Canadian Constitutional authority to impose his will upon our country. He has not, nor has he been vested with any by his own Congress or Senate.
He may well be once sworn into office. Until then, technically, he is still a private citizen. Make no mistake, his simple musings have sent our political leaders into a tizzy and a frenzy to please the grand master of the circus.
When our Prime Minister rushed to be first among world leaders to pay homage to Trump at Mar-A-Lago, a supine media applauded the “coup”. Team Trudeau did not include the then Deputy PM and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland (whom Mr. Trump does not like. For the last three weeks, they and we, have been “eating crow” every time that Team Trump launches some derogatory adjective to describe our PM or to repeat Trump’s displeasure that we are not doing enough to comply with his assumed or stated requests. It is humbling if not humiliating.
Let’s forget that Canada is among only twenty counties with a GPD that exceeds one trillion dollars (USD) and that he has already said we are “inconsequential”; because he will raise tariffs on Canadian goods and services by 25% if Canada does not (a) increase military spending to 2% of GDP, (b) get its emigration of illegal immigrants under control, and (c) improve its border controls – public safety.
According to Canada’s parliamentary Budget Officer and the CBC, in Budget 2021-2022 national Defence was the fourth largest Federal Expenditure was just under $30 Billion, $20 Billion less than what would be required to meet the 2% demand – if it does not increase to 5%. Only one other expenditure item surpasses that total: the number five ranked budget item, Indigenous services. Yet our Ministers are scrambling to assure Trump we will comply. How, When?
Our federal government has scrambled to find $1.5 Billion additional monies to enhance border security (in part to address concerns about smuggling human cargo, drugs and money-laundering) – details are vague. Moreover, it has begun to outline programs about to take effect to curb immigration and to encourage voluntary re-emigration to country of origin, coupling these with threats of “mass deportations”.
My head is spinning just trying to keep up.
One thing is certain, it is difficult to make sense of things from a prone position. It is nearly impossible when Team Trump downgrades the legitimacy of our national authorities while entertaining the “friendship” local jurisdictions in their place.
On a personal note, I see he is now trying to recruit hockey legend Wayne Gretsky as the next PM for Canada. I hope he has the same [lack of] “success” I did, many years ago, when I tried to recruit him as a basketball phenom into our program at Henry Carr S.S.
